BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS

How automatic budget cuts could affect Iowa

DES MOINES – The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office about how automatic budget cuts would affect states. The numbers reflect the impact of the automatic budget cuts this year.

Unless Congress acts by Friday, $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect from March-September.

As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility

Here are some examples of how automatic budget cuts could affect Iowa:

EDUCATION

– Iowa schools would lose about $6.4 million in funding. That would jeopardize about 90 jobs for teachers and aides, and it would mean that about 7,000 fewer students would be served.

– Programs for disabled students would lose about $5.8 million, jeopardizing about 70 jobs.

– Head Start and Early Head Start programs would be scaled back to help about 500 fewer kids.

– In college, funding for about 1,020 work-study jobs for low-income students would be eliminated and 2,370 fewer low-income students would receive help paying for college.

MILITARY & POLICE

– About 2,000 civilian employees of the Defense Department would be furloughed, reducing their pay by about $7.4 million.

– Army base spending would be cut by $1.5 million in Iowa.

– Law enforcement grants would be reduced by $135,000.

ENVIRONMENT

– Iowa would lose about $2.4 million in funding to ensure clean air and water and prevent pollution. The state would also lose $661,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

SOCIAL PROGRAMS

– Job search help programs would lose $376,000, so 12,680 fewer people would be helped.

– As many as 300 disadvantaged kids will lose child care.

– Funding for vaccines will be cut $90,000, so about 1,320 fewer kids will receive shots.

– Iowa would lose about $670,000 in grants for substance abuse treatment, and the state would lose $291,000 earmarked to help pay for public health upgrades.

– An HIV testing program would lose $61,000, which would pay for 1,500 tests.